EditorialRichard Mansfield, English actor, (1857-1907) as Jekyll & Hyde. A photograph and a calendar, for December. . The Richard Mansfield calendar for 1900 : showing pictures of his favorite characters with some appropriate quotations and good wishes for each...
EditorialAn emblematical miniature illustrating the proverb 'trampling on one man to help another', or in offering to help one person, you cause harm to another. Set in a landscape, an obliging man is carrying the person he wishes to help, and tramples on the b...
EditorialTong chun hai wu - phrase conveying wishes for longevity. A Keepsake from the Cloud Gallery/Yuntai Xianrui. China, 1750. Source: Add. 22689, ff. 2-3.
EditorialTong chun hai wu - phrase conveying wishes for longevity. A Keepsake from the Cloud Gallery/Yuntai Xianrui. China, 1750. Source: Add. 22689, ff. 4-5.
EditorialTo Colonel Sir Veronon Kell and the officers of M.I.5, with best wishes for 1921. To Sir Vernon Kell and the officers of M.I.5, with best wishes for 1921. An acknowledgement written on the back of a greeting card (see image record 084174). Source: Ms...
EditorialIn other lands'. First pictures of the much criticised German play on Captain Scott's last journey'. 'Above and right are two scenes from The South Pole expedition of Captain Scott, as staged at the Schauspiflhaus in Berlin with grim symbolism ... to ...
EditorialWith best wishes from MI5. Greeting card from MI5, depicting a knight walking in a wood. A snake is on the ground. 1921. Source: Mss Euro E 267/10 B.
EditorialM.I.5 greeting card. Reply to 'Col. Sir Vernon Kell and his staff with best wishes from the new firm'. Written on the back of a greeting card (see image record 084170). 30 Dec 1921. Source: Mss Euro E 267/10.
EditorialDoctor Syntax, in the Middle of a Smoking HotPolitical Squabble, wishes to Wet his W histle. Dated: published 1813. Medium: hand-colored etching.
EditorialLarge Turquoise Jar, 12th?13th century, Made in Iran, Earthenware; molded and glazed, H. 31 1/2 in. (80 cm), Ceramics, This large earthenware jar holds four registers of molded decoration containing motifs typical of the Seljuq period, including winged...
EditorialBowl, dated A.H. 583/ A.D. 1187, Attributed to Iran, Stonepaste; polychrome inglaze and overglaze painted on opaque monochrome glaze (mina'i), H. 3 5/8 in. (9.2 cm), Ceramics, Abu Zayd al-Kashani, This bowl and are the earliest dated pieces attributed ...
EditorialLong-Handled Spoon Inscribed in Arabic with Good Wishes, 11th century, Made in Iran, possibly Khurasan, High-tin bronze alloy; cast, chased, and drilled, H. 25 1/8 (63.8 cm) , Metal, Mahmud ibn Muhammad ibn Abi al-Hasan al-Naqqash, The most interesting...
EditorialBottle with Daoist Immortals, Ming dynasty (1368?1644), Wanli period (1573?1620), late 16th?17th century, China, Porcelain painted with cobalt blue under transparent glaze (Jingdezhen ware), H. 21 1/4 in. (54 cm); Diam. 9 in. (22.9 cm); Diam. of rim 3 ...
EditorialOval cup with feline dragons, Jin (1115?1234) to Yuan (1271?1368) dynasty, 12th?14th century, China, Jade (nephrite), L. 4 5/8 in. (11.7 cm), Jade, Two long, sinuous dragons, of a type known as chihulong, are carved along the edges of the cup. The inci...
EditorialModel of a House with Amorous Couple, 12th?early 13th century, Made in Iran, Stonepaste; molded, glazed in opaque white, luster-painted, H. 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm), Ceramics, Ceramic house models may have been wedding gifts. The erotic imagery on the roofto...
EditorialShaffron (Horse's Head Defense), early 16th century, Turkish or Iranian, Steel, copper alloy, H. 20 in. (50.8 cm); W. 9 1/2 in. (24.1 cm); Wt. 1 lb. 11 oz. (735 g), Equestrian Equipment-Shaffrons, The engraved decoration includes quotations in Persian ...
EditorialCandlestick with Horsemen and Arabic Inscriptions Conveying Good Wishes and Blessings Upon the Sultan, 13th?14th century, Attributed to Iran, Brass; cast, engraved, and originally inlaid with silver, Gr. H. 12 3/16 in. (30.9 cm), Metal.
EditorialEwer with Horsemen Inscribed in Arabic with Good Wishes to its Owner, second half 12th?early 13th century, Attributed to Iran, Stonepaste; polychrome inglaze and overglaze painted on opaque monochrome glaze (mina'i), H. 5 1/8 in. (13 cm), Ceramics, Ara...
EditorialBroad collar of Nefer Amulets, New Kingdom, Dynasty 18, ca. 1504?1450 B.C., From Egypt, Upper Egypt, Thebes, Wadi Gabbanat el-Qurud, Wadi D, Tomb of the 3 Foreign Wives of Thutmose III, Gold, crizzled glass, Egyptian blue, greatest w. 31 cm (12 3/16 in...
EditorialVase with Birthday Reception for General Guo Ziyi, Qing dynasty (1644?1911), Kangxi period (1662?1722), China, Porcelain painted with overglaze enamels, H. 31 3/4 in. (80.6 cm); W. 9 in. (22.9 cm); Diam. of rim: 7 in. (17.8 cm); Diam. of foot: 7 3/8 in...
EditorialOrnament with Squirrels and Grapes, Qing dynasty (1644?1911), 18th century, China, Amber, H. 3 in. (7.6 cm), Amber, Also a common theme in painting, squirrels and grapes?both known for their ability to multiply?allude to wishes for generations of child...
EditorialRuyi Scepter, Qing dynasty (1644?1911), 18th?19th century, China, Cloisonn? enamel with gilt-bronze medallions, L. 17 1/2 in. (44.5 cm), Cloisonn?, One translation of the Chinese term ruyi is 'as you wish,' and scepters in this shape were often given a...
Editorial'Shangul Stirs the Khaqan's Council to War on Rustam', Folio 276v from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp, ca. 1525?30, Made in Iran, Tabriz, Opaque watercolor, ink, silver, and gold on paper, Painting: H. 11 3/16 x W. 8 1/2 in. (H. 28.4 x W....
EditorialChild with Basket of Magical Lingzhi Fungus, Qing dynasty (1644?1911), 18th?19th century, China, Bamboo, H. 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm), Sculpture, The cloudlike mushrooms in the child's basket were symbolic of good wishes, and stylized versions of this shape a...
EditorialDisc with Auspicious Images, Qing dynasty (1644?1911), late19th?early 20th century, China, Cloisonn?, H. 1/8 in. (0.3 cm); Diam. 24 3/4 in. (62.9 cm), Cloisonn?, Deer and cranes are ubiquitous Chinese motifs symbolic of good wishes, as is the pine tree...
EditorialTHE QUEEN AND THE VOLUNTEERS, 1897: An address has been presented to Her Majesty the Queen by the National Artillery Association in this record year of her reign. The wording is as follows: "1837-1897. To Her Most Gracious Majesty Victoria, Queen of Gr...
EditorialLes vapeurs, the day of memories. A woman drinks tea on the sofa while her maid picks up bills strewn over the floor. "Kind husband, would you heal the painful nerves of your wife? Then let her spend as she wishes. She charges you only to pay for memor...
EditorialBronze relief in memory of Emperor Franz Joseph's 50-year jubilee, (1848-1898) in the anteroom of the ceremonial staircase. Girls march in a parade to present their wishes to the emperor. Reliefs by August Kirstein, 1898.
EditorialIvory snuff bottle, Chinese, Qing dynasty, 19th century. This snuff bottle is in the shape of a foshou (Buddha's hand), a type of citrus fruit. The name sounds like the words fu ('happiness') and shou ('longevity'), and the fruit was often used to repr...